The LaFontaines – Class

Capitalising on the recent Scottish hip-hop surge, Motherwell quintet The LaFontaines raised the bar with their latest single King. Unrelenting, nervy lyrics with violent undercurrents performed (perhaps crucially) in a thick Scottish accent work wonders on this track. The rest of Class is sadly a confused state of affairs. While abrasive and articulate rapping over the top of metal-esque guitar hooks certainly creates a unique take on rap rock, at times the bizarre amalgamation leaves you feeling as though you’re listening to two separate records; particularly when the Panic! At The Disco style vocals take over.

Tracks like All She Knows and Pull Me Back are stripped of the gritty rap element, leaving the listener feeling cheated; soaring teeny-bopper lyrics are a far cry from the edgy, provocative rhymes of King. In summary, incisive Scottish hip-hop + American teen-rock + Pendulum style electronica = make your fucking mind up. Pretty please.